I flew my EZ to the Contact Magazine Alternative Engine fly-in at Laughlin NV/Bullhead City AZ.

http://www.contactmagazine.com/roundUp.html

I had heard about it on Canard Aviators, but didn't realize it was also a tandem wing fly-in until I arrived there and saw the lineup of Dragonflies and Quickies, etc. I think the tandem wing gathering has been going on for years and they just combined it with the alternative engine thing. But it was a good time anyway, met some fun people. It apparently was much larger this year than in the past.

Klaus was there, gave an interesting talk. He asked if I wanted to race, of course I declined.

I was the rotary ambassador, since there were no other rotaries there. Hopefully I gave the the rotary a good impression, as I won the "farthest distance travelled" award (approx. 1000 nm one way). Maybe those Dragonflies don't have much fuel capacity?

Met a Cozy builder from Phoenix who plans to install a 13B and Tracy parts.

There were VW parts and Corvair engines. A 400 HP V8 engine producer from Arizona. One thing that was interesting to me, was a Corvair engine on a test stand, the starter and ring-gear were moved to the front (pusher/car) of the engine. I wondered if this could be done on the rotary.  It would move the starter/gear closer to the aircraft cg for better w&b, and allow the prop end to be made more compact. Maybe this idea is only appealing to a direct-drive guy like me.

--
Perry Mick
http://www.ductedfan.com




--
Perry Mick
Custom Composite Props
mick@bridgingworlds.com
http://www.ductedfan.com